Football’s week in quotes

A look at the main quotes from the world of football this week.

The Premier League has been rocked by the news that the man who led 5000/1 to win Leicester City to the title has been sacked.

Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester hover just a point above the relegation zone but the football world appears to have united in support of the Italian.

Following his dismissal, the former Chelsea boss told said, “After the euphoria of last season and being crowned champions, all I dreamt of was staying with Leicester. Sadly this was not to be,” Ranieri said.

“The adventure was amazing and will live with me forever. My heartfelt thanks to everybody at the club, everybody who was part of what we achieved, but mostly to the supporters.

“You took me into your hearts from day one and loved me. I love you too.

“No-one can ever take away what we achieved together and I hope you think about it and smile every day the way I always will.

“It was a time of wonderfulness and happiness that I will never forget. It’s been a pleasure and an honour to be a champion with all of you.”

Meanwhile, Leicester goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, rejected claims that the owners had called him, as well as Wes Morgan, Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy, to a meeting over Ranieri’s future at the club.

“Our owners are very very successful businessmen who have made decisions in their business lives many, many times,” he said.

“They’re the ones who make the decisions.

“We don’t kid ourselves that we can influence or make anything happen at all.”

While former Arsenal striker, Ian Wright, questioned the players motivation.

Claudio Ranieri sacked! Unfortunate news I think! Wonder how I'd feel if I was a Leicester player right now🤔. Could I have done more 🤔😪

Back in the Goonerverse, Arsenal beat Sutton United 2-0 in the FA Cup and Arsene Wenger was keen to applaud the non-League side’s performance.

“Their side was astonishing,” said Wenger. “It is basically division five and they are 17th out of 24.

“I was surprised the speed of their game, the fact they never stopped going until the end.”

He went on to claim that he would never manage a non-League side “because it is too difficult.”

Elsewhere, Lucas Perez explained how London is completely different to anywhere he’s ever lived. Coincidentally around the same time he’s been linked with a move away (*twiddles moustache*).

“It’s very different, I had never previously been based in such a major city. London is so huge and busy. When I was in Ukraine, I was in a small city. In Greece, I was in only the second or third largest city in the country. Those places were fine but I’ve never experienced anything as dynamic as London with its diverse population.”

“People have been doubting us and it’s important that we pick ourselves up to try to turn the tide into a more positive one. Our fans are great home and away. They’re very loud so we hear them when they’re happy and when they’re frustrated, but that’s part and parcel of being at a massive club like Arsenal.”